2% With Michael Easter

The downsides of blood tests and full-body MRIs

Nov 18, 2024

Dr. Bobby Dubois, a health policy researcher and podcast host, discusses the allure and pitfalls of direct-to-consumer blood tests and full-body MRIs. He explores how these tests can lead to unnecessary anxiety due to false positives and the misleading nature of out-of-range results. The conversation emphasizes the importance of consulting healthcare professionals to interpret test outcomes responsibly. Listeners will also learn about the financial implications of testing and the balance between proactive health measures and potential overdiagnosis.

55:30

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Episode guests

Bobby Dubois

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Quick takeaways

Direct-to-consumer medical tests offer the allure of proactive health management but can lead to misleading results and unnecessary stress.

The high rate of false positives associated with extensive testing underscores the importance of seeking professional context for abnormal results.

Building a trusting relationship with healthcare providers is crucial for making informed decisions about necessary tests and their implications.

Deep dives

The Trend of Direct-to-Consumer Medical Testing

Direct-to-consumer medical tests, such as at-home blood panels and full-body MRIs, have gained popularity as individuals seek to take charge of their health through early detection. These services beget the appeal of being proactive, as consumers hope to identify potential health issues before they become severe. Various companies offer tests that can analyze multiple health markers, mitigating the feelings of helplessness that can accompany the unknown aspects of one's health. However, the validity and comprehensiveness of these tests remain controversial, as they may not always provide meaningful insights without a doctor's guidance.

Intro

4min

Navigating Preventative Health Tests

5min

Navigating Medicine: From Academia to Evidence-Based Practices

2min

The Double-Edged Sword of Preventative Medicine

15min

The Dangers of Unnecessary Medical Testing

15min

Rethinking Medical Assessments

9min

Evaluating the Necessity of Full-Body MRIs and ApoB Testing

2min

Understanding Cholesterol, ApoB, and the Impact of False Positives

3min

New companies allow us to go around doctors and get blood work that checks for 100+ biomarkers or a full-body MRI to scan for cancer when we don’t have symptoms.

The idea of taking your health into your own hands and preventing disease with a direct-to-consumer test sounds perfect in theory.

But there are some downsides to consider if you test yourself, and knowing those downsides can help you get better health outcomes from the test.

To learn more, Michael chatted with Dr. Bobby Dubois—an M.D., researcher, and Ph.D. in health policy—about how we should think about direct-to-consumer blood tests and disease screenings.

They cover:

* Preventative tests that are currently available to consumers, from blood tests that check 100+ markers to full-body MRIs and blood screenings that detect cancer.

* The upsides of these tests.

* The differences between preventative, direct-to-consumer medical tests and doctor-ordered medical tests.

* Why the results of medical tests and scans aren’t perfect, and how those imperfections can lead to unnecessary stress, costs, procedures, and your ability to get life insurance.

* Understanding the math behind preventative blood testing—why you’re likely to have at least one blood marker out of range and why that can be misleading.

* What to do if you get a direct-to-consumer test and it comes back with abnormalities.

* How abnormalities in your results are like the credit card fraud alerts you get from your bank.

* What the data says about routine screenings compared to preventative full-body MRIs and direct-to-consumer blood tests.

* The three categories of cancer and how full-body MRIs are helpful for only one of them.

* The counterintuitive downsides of catching a certain category of cancer with a full body MRI.

* Questions to ask your doctor if they’d like you to get a medical test like a CAT scan, MRI, or special type of blood work.

* Bobby’s final thoughts on direct-to-consumer preventative medical tests.

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2% With Michael Easter

The downsides of blood tests and full-body MRIs

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

The Trend of Direct-to-Consumer Medical Testing

Potential Upsides and Unintended Consequences

Understanding False Positives in Medical Testing

Navigating the Role of Healthcare Providers

Evaluating the Future of Health Testing

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts